be free, be happy, be peaceful

May all find the teacher within to guide oneself towards unconditional love and peace

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Physical exercises and yoga?

Just like everything else, physical exercises are neither good nor
bad. If it is being performed with some basic knowledge and
understanding of how to perform the exercises with care and
attentiveness, as well as without the influence of egoism and
attachment, then it will bring benefits to the body and mind. If it is
being done under the influence of egoism and attachment, without the
basic knowledge and understanding, nor with care and attentiveness, then
it might cause unnecessary tension, stress, damages or injuries to the
body and mind.

At any stages in life from young to old, the physical body needs to
be performing some forms of regular physical exercises to improve and
maintain its good health and fitness level. The intensity of the
exercises should be within the effort according to the physical
condition and ability in that moment. Some forms of gentle exercises for
about half an hour to an hour a day will be sufficient to achieve the
benefits of physical exercises. Over exercising or performing strenuous
physical exercises that is beyond the effort of the physical condition
and ability in that moment can cause short term or long term damages or
injuries to the physical body.

The body needs certain degrees of ‘stress’ to maintain its bone
density and muscular strength. But excessive ‘stress’ that can cause
over-stimulation to the entire body systems, energy depletion or
over-exhaustion, and muscular tendons injuries, isn’t necessary. What’s
the point when we try to make the body fitter and healthier, but being
disappointed, or dissatisfied, or frustrated, or unhappy about oneself
imposed by some negative judgment, comparison and expectation coming
from oneself towards one’s physical condition and ability, or the
physical performance and achievement.

Yoga is not a physical exercise as some people think it is. Yoga
asana practice is one part of the many types of yoga practice. Yoga
asana practice involves physical movements that will give the similar
effects of performing any physical exercises. These effects of physical
exercise that we attain from performing regular yoga asana practice is
just a side-effect from the practice, it is not the goal of the
practice.

Physical exercises don’t guarantee anyone to be peaceful and
compassionate. But yoga, which is the mental exercises or internal
observations, if being practiced with the correct understanding and attitude,
can bring oneself to realize unconditional peace and compassion, that
is undetermined by the physical conditions and abilities.

Yoga asana practice is like everything else, it is neither good nor
bad. It has no quality nor intention to generate pleasantness or
unpleasantness, positive effects or negative effects to the
practitioner. Yoga asana practice being performed regularly without the
influence of the egoism and attachment will bring oneself towards peace
beside getting the physical and mental effects of physical exercises. If
it is being done under the influence of the egoism and attachment, it
might cause tension, stress, damages or injuries to one’s body and mind.

Although regular physical exercise doesn’t guarantee us to be free
from ignorance and egoism, or be free from unhappiness and suffering, it can help us to develop higher energy level, strengthening the
body systems, improve physical stamina, physical strength and
flexibility, to lower the risk of incurring diseases and lower the risk
of physical injuries, promote good health, alertness, positive thinking,
cheerfulness, determination, perseverance and tolerance to deal with
unexpected or undesirable situations that may arise in everyday life
more efficiently and easily.

The effects of physical exercises are beneficial for both physical
and mental health and fitness, to allow us to enjoy a better quality of
life, to allow ourselves to have the good physical and mental condition,
the clear thinking ability, the strength and mobility, and the higher
energy level to perform selfless service for oneself and others. But no
matter how much we try to maintain the good condition of this physical
body, it is still subject to changes, decay, injury, pain, discomfort,
stiffness, weakness, old age and decomposition.

Appreciate and take good care of this physical body as well as the
mind, but without identification with the body and mind as who ‘I’ am,
and without attachment towards the impermanent changes of the body and
mind. Allow the impermanent changes to be what they are, without craving
for particular conditions, nor aversion towards certain conditions.
Make good use of the good condition of the body and mind that is
available now, to be doing something beneficial for ourselves and for
others, without identification with the actions and the fruit of actions, without attachment
towards the actions or the fruit of actions.